Semiconductor device

ABSTRACT

A phase change memory capable of highly reliable operations is provided. A semiconductor device has a memory array having a structure in which memory cells are stacked including memory layers using a chalcogenide material and diodes, and initialization conditions and write conditions are changed according to the layer in which a selected memory cell is positioned. The initialization conditions and write conditions (herein, reset conditions) are changed according to the operation by selecting a current mirror circuit according to the operation and by a control mechanism of a reset current in a voltage select circuit and the current mirror circuit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 12/335,418filed Dec. 15, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,830,706. The presentapplication also claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. JP2007-335614 filed on Dec. 27, 2007, the content of which is herebyincorporated by reference into this application.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a semiconductor device, and relates toa technique effectively applied to a memory device including a memorycell that is formed by elements having different resistance valuescorresponding to memory information, in particular, to a memory deviceincluding a phase change memory using a memory cell which storesinformation by utilizing state changes of a chalcogenide material anddiscriminates the information by detecting the resistance valuedifferences of the information.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As a technology studied by the inventor of the present invention, forexample, the following technology is conceivable for a semiconductordevice including a phase change memory. A memory element uses achalcogenide materials (or a phase change material) containing at leastantimony (Sb) and tellurium (Te) such as a Ge—Sb—Te-based one, anAg—In—Sb—Te-based one as a material of storage layers. A diode is usedfor a selection device. Characteristics of the phase change memory usingthe chalcogenide material and the diodes in this manner are described,for example, in IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference,Digest of Technical Papers, USA, 2007, p. 472-473 and 616 (Non-PatentDocument 1).

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a relation between pulse widths andtemperatures required for phase change of a resistive memory elementusing a phase change material. When memory information ‘0’ is to bewritten to this memory element, as shown in FIG. 2, a reset pulse thatheats the element to a melting point Ta or more of the chalcogenidematerial and rapidly cools it is applied. The cooling time t1 is set tobe short, for example, about 1 ns; as a result, the chalcogenidematerial is caused to be in a high-resistance amorphous(non-crystalline) state.

On the other hand, when memory information ‘1’ is to be written, a setpulse that maintains the memory element in a temperature region lowerthan the melting point Ta and higher than a crystallization temperatureTx that is equal to or higher than a glass transition point is applied;as a result, the chalcogenide material is caused to be in alow-resistance polycrystalline state. Time t2 required forcrystallization is different depending on the composition of thechalcogenide material. The temperature of the element shown in FIG. 2 isdependent on Joule heat generated by the memory element itself and thethermal diffusion to the periphery.

In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-060171(Patent Document 1), memory cell characteristics and reading conditionsof a semiconductor memory device having an array structure in whichmemory cells having ferroelectric layers are stacked interposinginsulating layers are described. Specifically, since the thermal historyof the memory cells is different in each layer, differences in theelectrical characteristics of the memory cells are generated dependingon the formed layers. In order to reliably read such memory cells, amethod of changing a reference voltage according to the layer having theaccessed memory cell is taught. Japanese Patent Application Laid-OpenPublication No. 2007-501519 (Patent Document 2) describes memory cellcharacteristics of a semiconductor memory device having an arraystructure in which memory cells comprising a chalcogenide material arestacked. More specifically, it is described that the chalcogenidematerial has characteristics prone to be affected by formation steps ofthe stacked arrangement. Japanese Patent Application Laid-OpenPublication No. 2004-266220 (Patent Document 3) describes a memory arraystructure of a stacked-type magnetic memory. Specifically, a method ofchanging the wiring structure, contact structure, etc. for each layer inorder to prevent the writing characteristics from differing in eachlayer is described.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Prior to the present application, the inventors of the presentapplication have studied about increasing the integration degree of aphase change memory using memory layers comprising a chalcogenidematerial and diodes. Particularly, in a study about a 3-D structurebased on stacked memory arrays, the following two problems have beenfound out.

A first problem lies in that the thermal history of the memory cellsdiffers in each layer and it may result in differences in electricalcharacteristics of the memory cells. Specifically, thermal load islarger in the memory array of a lower layer. Therefore, it is predictedthat the resistance value after manufacturing is lower in a memory arrayof a lower layer. For a phase change memory, generally, a so-calledinitialization of applying a higher voltage or a larger current than anormal write operation to reduce the resistance value is carried out. Ifa bias in the initialization is set to a value adjusted for a memoryarray of an upper layer that requires a higher voltage or a largercurrent, excessive stress may be applied to the memory cells which arepositioned in lower layers having lower resistance value, and theelectrical characteristics of the memory layers may be deteriorated.Therefore, it is desired to adjust the voltage or current of theinitialization according to the layer in which the memory cell to beinitialized is formed.

A second problem lies in that the resistance values after a normal writeoperation may be varied due to the differences in the electricalcharacteristics of the memory cells which are posed due to the thermalhistory similar to the first problem. In the memory having theferroelectric layers, i.e., a ferroelectric memory described in PatentDocument 1 mentioned above, information is stored by applying anelectric field to the ferroelectric substance and changing the directionof the intrinsic polarization. As a method of compensating for thedifferences in the electrical characteristics of the memory cellsgenerated among formed layers, changing the writing voltage for eachlayer is conceivable. However, in this method, a voltage control circuitfor changing the writing voltage for each layer is necessary to beprovided, and thus it is not preferred because there are posed anincrease of chip area in addition to an increase of transistor size.Accordingly, the differences in the electrical characteristics generatedin the memory cells after the write operation had to be compensated forby adjusting the reading conditions (herein, reference voltage) asdescribed in Patent Document 1.

Meanwhile, in the phase change memory cell, it can be predicted thatcharacteristic deteriorations such as disturbance and endurance may becaused due to the differences in the state after writing. In order toavoid such problems, when operation conditions adjusted for a memoryarray of a lower layer that requires a higher voltage or a largercurrent are set in a reset operation for achieving a high-resistancestate, excessive stress is applied to memory cells in memory arrays ofpositioned at upper layers having relatively low resistance values. As aresult, the resistance value after resetting is increased more thanneeded, and there is a possibility that a reverse write operation cannotbe carried out. Reversely, when the bias in the reset operation is setto a value necessary for the memory array of the upper layer, energyapplied to the memory cells positioned in the lower layer having arelatively low resistance value becomes deficient; therefore, it may notbe changed to a desired resistance value. However, when a read circuitcommon to the layers is formed on a silicon substrate in considerationof chip-area reduction, the cell resistance in the reset state has to bea constant value or more for realizing a reliable read operation.Therefore, a reset operation to make the memory cells positioned in anymemory arrays have similar resistance values is desired.

A third problem lies in that the yield may be varied among the layers inwhich the memory cells are formed due to the influence of the thermalload described above. More specifically, in a chip architecture in thepast, when a low-yield layer exists, the entire chip is judged to bedefective, and the chip is discarded. In such an inspection method, thenumber of obtained chips per a wafer is reduced, and increase of the bitcost is caused as a result. In order to reduce the bit cost, it isdesired to have an architecture such that judgment of non-defectiveproducts is carried out in a layer unit, and the chip can be consideredto be a non-defective product and shipped if at least one high-yieldlayer is present.

Accordingly, in consideration of the forgoing problems and so forth, thepresent invention aims, as for a phase change memory having a memoryarray having a structure where memory cells are stacked, to controlmemory cells to have a desired resistance value by adjusting a drivevoltage or drive current of initialization and writing according to thelayer in which the memory cells are formed without deteriorating theelectrical characteristics of a chalcogenide material. In addition, thepresent invention aims to achieve a memory array configuration in whichperformances of memory cells are evaluated in the layer unit and, if atleast one high-yield layer is present, merely the layer can be used. Theabove and other objects and novel characteristics of the presentinvention will be apparent from the description of this specificationand the accompanying drawings.

The typical ones of the inventions disclosed in this application will bebriefly described as follows.

There are comprised: a first memory cell provided in a first layer andhaving a first memory element to which memory information is written bya current; a second memory cell provided in a second layer, which isformed above the first layer, and having a second memory element towhich memory information is written by a current; a first addressdecoder outputting a first layer select signal for selecting the firstlayer or a second layer select signal for selecting the second layer;and a write driver supplying a first current to the first memory cellwhen first memory information is to be written to the first memory celland supplying a second current, which has a magnitude different fromthat of the first current, to the second memory cell when the firstmemory information is to be written to the second memory cell, where thewrite driver controls the magnitudes of the first current and the secondcurrent according to the first layer select signal and the second layerselect signal.

Alternatively, there are comprised: a first bit line provided in a firstlayer; a second bit line provided in a second layer formed above thefirst layer; a first word line and a second word line intersecting withthe first bit line and the second bit line; a first memory cell providedat an intersecting point of the first bit line and the first word lineand comprising a first memory element, to which memory information iswritten by a current, and a first rectifier element which causes acurrent to flow in a direction from the first word line to the first bitline via the first memory element; a second memory cell provided at anintersecting point of the first bit line and the second word line andcomprising a second memory element, to which memory information iswritten by a current, and a second rectifier element which causes acurrent to flow in a direction from the second word line to the firstbit line via the second memory element; a third memory cell provided atan intersecting point of the second bit line and the first word line andcomprising a third memory element, to which memory information iswritten by a current, and a third rectifier element which causes acurrent to flow in a direction from the first word line to the secondbit line via the third memory element; and a fourth memory cell providedat an intersecting point of the second bit line and the second word lineand comprising a fourth memory element, to which memory information iswritten by a current, and a fourth rectifier element which causes acurrent to flow in a direction from the second word line to the secondbit line via the fourth memory element, where a first voltage issupplied to the first or second memory cell when initializing the firstor second memory cell, and a second voltage, which is different from thefirst voltage, is supplied to the third or fourth memory cell wheninitializing the third or fourth memory cell.

Still alternatively, there are comprised: a first memory cell providedin a first layer and having a first memory element to which memoryinformation is written by a current; a second memory cell provided in asecond layer formed above the first layer and having a second memoryelement to which memory information is written by a current; an addresstranslation circuit which translates a first address signal forselecting either one of the first layer and the second layer to a secondaddress signal for selecting the other one of the first layer and thesecond layer; a multiplexer which selects either one of the firstaddress signal and the second address signal outputted by the addresstranslation circuit; and a first address decoder which generates a firstlayer select signal for selecting the first layer or a second layerselect signal for selecting the second layer according to the signalselected by the multiplexer.

To describe an effect obtained by typical aspects of the presentinvention will be briefly, a highly reliably operated phase changememory can be realized.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a circuit blockof a main part of a phase change memory included in a semiconductordevice of a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a relation between pulse widths andtemperatures required for phase change of a resistive element using aphase change material;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a memory array configuration example of thecircuit block shown in FIG. 1 in the semiconductor device of the firstembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a cross section of stacked memory cellsincluded in the memory array shown in FIG. 3 in the semiconductor deviceof the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a memory map of the phase change memoryshown in FIG. 1 in the semiconductor device of the first embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a page configuration example shown in FIG. 5in the semiconductor device of the first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of column address allocation inthe semiconductor device of the first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of row address allocation in thesemiconductor device of the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a detailed configuration of asense amplifier circuit of FIG. 1 included in the semiconductor deviceof the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a detailed configuration of awrite driver of FIG. 1 included in the semiconductor device of the firstembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a relation between target memory layers forreset and reset currents in the write driver shown in FIG. 10 in thesemiconductor device of the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing setting of an array voltage VARY for eachof operations in the semiconductor device of the first embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of initialization operation ofthe phase change memory included in the semiconductor device of thefirst embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of an internal operation in theinitialization operation of the phase change memory shown in FIG. 13 inthe semiconductor device of the first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a write operation of thephase change memory in the semiconductor device of the first embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of an internal operation in thewrite operation of the phase change memory shown in FIG. 15 in thesemiconductor device of the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of a read operation of the phasechange memory in the semiconductor device of the first embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of an internal operation in theread operation of the phase change memory shown in FIG. 17 in thesemiconductor device of the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of a detailed configuration ofthe write driver of FIG. 1 included in the semiconductor device of asecond embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a relation between target memory layers forreset and reset currents in the write driver shown in FIG. 19 in thesemiconductor device of the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a circuit blockof a main part of a phase change memory included in a semiconductordevice of a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an addresstranslation circuit in the circuit block shown in FIG. 21 in thesemiconductor device of the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an address translation table in the addresstranslation circuit shown in FIG. 22 in the semiconductor device of thethird embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing functions of a multiplexer shown in FIG. 22in the semiconductor device of the third embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing a flow chart of a read operation forchecking validity of memory layers of a phase change memory included ina semiconductor device of a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing a modification example of the readoperation of the phase change memory included in the semiconductordevice of the fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing an example of correspondence between inputcommands and chip internal signals in the semiconductor device of thefourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing an example of a device ID read operation ofthe phase change memory included in the semiconductor device of thefourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 29 is a diagram showing an example of contents of device IDs in thesemiconductor device of the fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 30 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a block of amain part in a semiconductor device of a fifth embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 31 is a diagram showing another configuration example of the blockof a main part in a semiconductor device of a sixth embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 32 is a diagram showing an example of a detailed configuration ofthe write driver of FIG. 1 included in a semiconductor device of aseventh embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 33 is a diagram showing a relation between target memory layers forreset and reset current in the write driver shown in FIG. 32 in thesemiconductor device of the seventh embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 34 is a diagram showing an example of an internal operation in awrite operation of the phase change memory shown in FIG. 22 in thesemiconductor device of the seventh embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 35 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a circuit blockof a main part of a phase change memory included in a semiconductordevice of an eighth embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 36 is a diagram showing settings of an array voltage VARY andfunctions of a voltage select circuit shown in FIG. 35 in thesemiconductor device of the eighth embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described indetail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that,components having the same function are denoted by the same referencesymbols throughout the drawings for describing the embodiment, and therepetitive description thereof will be omitted. Also, circuit elementsconfiguring respective functional blocks of the embodiments are formedon a semiconductor substrate such as single crystal silicon by anintegrated circuit technology of, for example, a publicly-known CMOS(complementary metal-oxide semiconductor transistor) although there isno particular limitation.

Note that, in the embodiments, MOS (Metal Oxide Semiconductors)transistors are used as an example of MISFETs (Metal InsulatorSemiconductor Field Effect Transistors). In the drawings, a symbol of anarrow is arranged to the gate of a p-channel type MOS transistor (PMOStransistor) so as to distinguish it from an n-channel type MOStransistor (NMOS transistor). While a connection of the substratepotential of the MOS transistor is not particularly and clearly shown inthe drawings, a method of connection thereof is not particularly limitedas long as it is in a range that enables normal operation of the MOStransistor.

First Embodiment

The present embodiment provides a phase change memory capable ofchanging initialization conditions and write conditions depending on alayer in which a selected memory cell is positioned.

First, according to FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, the phase change memory accordingto the present invention will be described. The phase change memoryaccording to the present invention has a structure in which memory cellscomprising storage layers comprising a chalcogenide material andcell-selecting diodes are stacked via insulating layers.

<<Overall Configuration of Stacked Phase Change Memory>>

FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram showing a configuration example of amain part of the phase change memory in a semiconductor device of afirst embodiment according to the present invention. In this diagram, asan example, a configuration in the case of 8 Gbit comprising 2-Gbitmemory planes PL0 to PL3 is shown. Each of the memory planes comprises amemory array MA, a sense amplifier & write driver (S/A & Write Driver),Y-gating (Y-Gating), a column decoder YDEC, a first row decoder XDEC1, asecond row decoder XDEC2, and a third row decoder XDEC3. As describedabove, the memory array MA has a configuration in which memory cellscomprising storage layers formed of the chalcogenide material, andcell-selecting diodes are three-dimensionally disposed in matrix. Thesense amplifier & write driver is a circuit block which reads memoryinformation from the memory array and carries out a write operation ofmemory information to the memory array. The Y-gating (Y-Gating) is acircuit block which is connected to the sense amplifier & write drivervia pairs of data line D[16895:0] of 16896 {=(2¹⁴+29)−1} lines, and alsoconnected to a block of input/output line buffer & block of latch (I/OBuffers & Latches) via a plane data bus PDBUS to transmit and receivememory information.

The operations of the respective decoders will be described below withfocusing on the memory plane PL0. The column decoder YDEC is a circuitblock for selecting a gate to be activated in the Y-gating mutuallyconnecting the above-described sense amplifier & write driver and theblock of input/output line buffer & block of latch. The first to thirdrow decoders XDEC1 to XDEC3 are circuit blocks which select memory cellsto be activated. The first row decoder XDEC1 is the circuit block whichselects and activates one line from 4095 (=2¹²−1) word lines WL[4095:0]according to an internal address PA0[23:12] distributed for the memoryplane PL0. The second row decoder XDEC2 is the circuit block whichselects and activates one line from eight bit-line select signalsBS[7:0] according to an internal address PA0[26:24] distributed for thememory plane PL0. The third row decoder XDEC3 is the circuit block whichselects and activates one pair from four pairs of memory layer selectsignals (LS7T, LS7B) to (LS0T, LS0B) according to an internal addressPA0[28:27] distributed for the memory plane PL0.

An array voltage VARY is a voltage supplied from outside the phasechange memory PCM to the first row decoder XDEC1 and the write driverWD. The array voltage herein is controlled in the manner shown in FIG.12 which will be described later. More specifically, when initializationis to be carried out, the voltage is set to any of V0 to V3 so that thevoltage is an optimal voltage to the corresponding layer and supplied tothe first row decoder XDEC1 and the write driver WD; and, when a read orwrite operation is to be carried out, independent of the layer, thevoltage is always set to VDD and supplied to the first row decoder XDEC1and the write driver WD.

Herein, the array voltage VARY is has the feature to supply an optimalinitialization voltage for each layer in the initialization.

In this manner, by virtue of the configuration that supplies the arrayvoltage VARY controlled for each layer to the first row decoder XDEC1,initialization of memory cells can be carried out by the optimal voltagefor each layer according to the resistance value that is varied amonglayers due to differences in electrical characteristics. Herein, thevoltage used for initialization can be also generated by providing avoltage generator in the interior as shown in a seventh embodiment,which will be described later. However, since carrying out merely onetime of initialization in a test or the like upon shipping issatisfactory, the voltage can be supplied from outside without providingthe voltage generator in the interior. When power is supplied fromoutside, increase of the chip area caused by the internal voltagegenerator can be prevented.

Moreover, by virtue of the configuration that supplies the array voltagecontrolled for each layer to the write driver WD, the amount of thecurrent Iint that flows through the memory cells in the initializationcan be controlled to an appropriate value, and the initialization can becarried out with higher precision.

Next, peripheral circuit blocks will be described. Memory information,command signals, and address signals used in the phase change memoryaccording to the present invention are transmitted and received from aninput/output line IO[7:0] via global buffers (Global Buffers) or anoutput driver (Output Driver). The global buffers (Global Buffers) arecontrolled by a block of control signals CTL1. The memory information istransferred further between the global buffers (Global Buffers) or theoutput driver (Output Driver) and the block of input/output line buffer& block of latch (I/O Buffers & Latches) via a corresponding global busGBUS1 or a global bus GBUS2. The block of input/output line buffer & theblock of latch (I/O Buffers & Latches) are controlled by a block ofcontrol signals CTL2. The command signals are transferred from theglobal buffers (Global Buffers) to command register & control logic(Command register & Control Logic) via a chip internal bus IBUS. Also,the address signals IA[30:0] are transferred to X-buffers and latchesalso via IBUS. Specifically, the address signal IA[11:0] is transferredto the Y-buffers & latches (Y-Buffers & Latches). The address signalIA[30:12] is transferred to X-buffers & latches (X-buffers & Latches).

The command register & control logic (Command register & Control Logic)further distributes blocks of control signal CTL1 to CTL4 to blocks ofphase change memory according to a memory plane select signal PS[3:0]outputted from the X-buffers and latches (X-Buffers & Latches) and aplurality of control signals. The plurality of control signals are,specifically, a command latch enable signal CLE, an address latch enablesignal ALE, a chip enable signal CEB, a read enable signal REB, a writeenable signal WEB, a write protect signal WPB, and a ready/busy signalRBB. The command latch enable signal CLE is a signal for activating theabove-described command register which temporarily stores the commandsignals. The address latch enable signal ALE is a signal for activatingthe above-described Y-buffers and latches which temporarily store theaddress signal. The chip enable signal CEB is a signal for selecting aphase change memory chip. The read enable signal REB is a signal foractivating the above-described output driver and outputting memoryinformation while generating a column address in the interior of thechip. The write enable signal WEB is a signal for receiving the memoryinformation, command signals, and address signals. The write protectsignal WPB is a signal for preventing accidental write operations uponpower on. The ready/busy signal RBB is a signal which notifies whetherthe interior of the chip is currently under a read operation and a writeoperation or not.

The Y-buffers and latches (Y-Buffers & Latches) are a circuit block fortransferring the address signal IA[11:0] to the memory planes PL0 to PL3according to a block of control signals CTL3 and the memory plane selectsignal PS[3:0]. For example, if a memory plane control signal PS0 isactivated, the internal address signal PA0[11:0] is activated. When theinternal address signal is selectively distributed to the activatedmemory plane, the power consumption required for driving signal linescan be suppressed.

The X-buffers & latches (X-Buffers & Latches) are a circuit block fortransferring the address signal IA[30:12] to the memory planes PL0 toPL3 according to the memory plane select signal PS[3:0]. As same as theinternal address signal PA0[11:0], the memory plane, which is thetransfer destination, is selected by the memory plane control signalsPS0 to PS3 generated according to the address signal IA[30:29].

<<Configuration of Memory Array>>

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration example of thememory array MA shown in FIG. 1. When the memory array MA is configuredin the manner shown in FIG. 3, the integration degree of the memorycells can be improved by virtue of the structure in which the memorycells comprising the memory layers using the chalcogenide material andthe diodes are stacked. The details thereof will be described below.

Hereinafter, the unit of memory cells accessed by one read operation orwrite operation is referred to as a page. The memory array MA of FIG. 3has 131072 (=2¹⁷) pages. Each of the pages comprises a 2-kByte mainfield and a 64-Byte spare field; and, when these are summed up, theyhave a size of 2112 kByte. The memory array MA having suchcharacteristics will be explained below in detail.

The memory array MA comprises 16896 (=2¹⁴+2⁹) sub-memory arrays SMA0 toSMA16895, a first block of multiplexer MUXB1, and a block of secondmultiplexer MUXB2. Each of the sub-memory arrays SMA0 to SMA16895comprises blocks of stacked memory cell MB00 to MB(2¹²−1)7 disposedrespectively at intersecting points of the 4096 (=2¹²) word lines WL0 toWL4095 (=WL(2¹²−1)) and eight pairs of local bit-lines (LB001 toLB004)-(LB071 to LB074), for example, like the sub-memory array SMA0.Each of the blocks of stacked memory cell MB00 to MB(2¹²−1)7 comprisesmemory cells MC1 to MC4, each of which comprises a phase changeresistive element R having the function of the storage layer using thechalcogenide material and the memory-cell-selecting diode D connected inseries between the corresponding bit line and word line.

The first block of multiplexer MUXB1 comprises blocks of multiplexerMB10 to MB116895 corresponding to the 16896 (=2¹⁴+2⁹) sub-memory arraysSMA0 to SMA16895. Each of the blocks of multiplexer MB10 to MB116895 isa circuit in which, for example like a multiplexer MUX10 in the block ofmultiplexer MB10, one line is selected from the four local bit-linesLB001 to LB004 according to a memory layer select signal LS[3:0] and isconnected to a bit line BL00.

The second block of multiplexer MUXB2 comprises multiplexers MUX20 toMUX216895 corresponding to the 16896 (=2¹⁴+2⁹) sub-memory arrays SMA0 toSMA16895. Each of the multiplexers MUX20 to MUX216895 is a circuit inwhich, for example like the multiplexer MUX20, one line is selected fromeight local bit-lines BL00 to BL07 according to a bit line select signalBS[7:0] and is connected to a common data-line CD0.

FIG. 3 also shows the sense amplifier & write driver (S/A & WriteDriver). The sense amplifier & write driver (S/A & Write Driver)comprises read/write circuits RW0 to RW16895 corresponding to the 16896(=2¹⁴+2⁹) sub-memory arrays SMA0 to SMA16895. Each of the read/writecircuits RW0 to RW16895 is disposed between the common data line CD0 anda pair of data lines D0T/B, for example like the read/write circuit RW0.The read/write circuit RW0 comprises a sense amplifier SA and a writedriver WD.

In FIG. 3, in each of the blocks of stacked memory cell MB00 toMB(2¹²−1)7, with respect to the memory cell MC1 of a first layer to thememory cell MC4 of a fourth layer, the bit lines are provided to therespective memory cells, and the word line short-circuits the memorycells MC1 to MC4 collectively by the same wiring. A similarconfiguration with respect to this configuration can be realized byproviding word lines for the respective memory cells, and by providing abit line collectively by a same wiring. However, since the plurality ofword lines are connected to select circuits in the row decoder XDEC1,respectively, a PMOS having a large area is connected to each of them.Therefore, the present embodiment capable of suppressing the number ofPMOSes by assembling a plurality of word lines is more effective in thepoint of suppressing increase of the circuit area.

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional structure of the blocks of stacked memorycell and the first block of multiplexer shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 4 shows,as an example, the blocks of stacked memory cell MB00 to MB(2¹²−1)0connected to the pairs of the local bit-lines LB001 to LB004 and themultiplexer MUX10. Each block of stacked memory cell according to thepresent embodiment has a feature such that the four memory cells MC1 toMC4 shown in FIG. 3 are stacked.

The blocks of stacked memory cells MB00 to MB(2¹²−1)0 and themultiplexer MUX10 are formed in a p-well region 101 formed on a p-typesilicon substrate 100. 103 denotes a poly-silicon layer serving as gateelectrodes of NMOS transistors that the multiplexer MUX10 has. Thesymbols in parentheses are the memory layer select signals LS[3:0]. 104denotes an n-type diffusion layer region which serves as sourceelectrodes or drain electrodes of the NMOS transistors. 105 denotes anoxide for separation to block conduction between the transistors.

201 to 204 denote first to fourth tungsten layers which serve as thelocal bit-lines LB001 to LB004. 211 to 214 denote fifth to eighthtungsten layers which serve as the word lines. The word line is sharedin each block of stacked memory cell like WL0, and the fifth to eighthtungsten layers are mutually short-circuited at the positions not shownon the paper. The first to eighth tungsten layers are mutually isolatedby interlayer insulators 600.

301 denotes a first contact for connecting the first tungsten layer andthe n-type diffusion layer. 302 denotes a second contact for connectingthe second tungsten layer and the first tungsten layer. 303 denotes athird contact for connecting the third tungsten layer and the secondtungsten layer. 304 denotes a fourth contact for connecting the fourthtungsten layer and the third tungsten layer.

For example, like the memory cell MC1 in the block of stacked memorycell MB00, the memory cell is formed like a column between the tungstenlayer (herein, 201) which serves as the local bit-line LB001 and thetungsten layer (herein, 211) which serves as the word line WL0. 400denotes a p-type silicon layer of the PN diode, 401 denotes an n-typesilicon layer of the PN diode, and 402 denotes the chalcogenide materiallayer. 500 denotes a ninth tungsten layer which serves as a buffer layerbetween the PN diode and the chalcogenide material layer, and 501denotes a tenth tungsten layer which serves as a buffer layer betweenthe chalcogenide material layer and the local bit-line. Herein, thememory cell can be also configured to have a select transistor and thechalcogenide material layer, where the word line is connected to a gateof the select transistor. However, the integration degree of the memorycell can be further improved by the configuration having the diode andthe chalcogenide material layer like the present embodiment.

<<Memory Map>>

Next, a memory map of the phase change memory according to the presentembodiment will be described. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an overview ofthe present memory map. Each of the memory planes PL0 to PL3 has afeature to comprise four main blocks (Main-block 0, Main-block 4,Main-block 8, and Main-block 12), for example like the memory plane PL0.These main blocks correspond to the stacked memory arrays; for example,the Main-block 0 is the memory array of the first layer, the Main-block4 is the memory array of the second layer, the Main-block 8 is thememory array of the third layer, and the Main-block 12 is the memoryarray of the fourth layer. Each of the main blocks (Main-block 0 toMain-block 15) comprises 512 blocks (Block 0 to Block 511), for examplelike the Main-block 0. Further, each of the blocks (Block 0 to Block511) comprises 64 pages (Page 0 to Page 63) like the Block 0.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of the page shown in FIG. 5.The page comprises a main field of 2048 (=2¹¹) byte and a spare field of64 (=2⁸) byte. The main field further has four fields (an A area to a Darea or a first sector to a fourth sector) each of which is configuredby 512 bytes. The spare field is configured by four fields (an E area toan H area or a fifth sector to an eighth sector) each of whichcomprising 16 bytes. Memory information is written to the main field,and one-bit error correction codes are written to the spare field.Corresponding to such a page configuration, the memory array shown inFIG. 3 comprises the 16896 (=2¹⁴+2⁹) sub-memory arrays. The senseamplifier and the write driver (S/A & Write Driver) comprise 16896(=2¹⁴+2⁹) pairs of sense amplifiers and write drivers.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing allocation of column addresses. The mainfield is specified by column addresses 0 to 2047. The spare field isspecified by column addresses 2048 to 2111. These column addresses aregenerated by the address signal IA[11:0] shown in FIG. 1. Therefore,although details will be described later, 16896 (=2¹⁴+2⁹) bit memoryinformation read from the memory array MA at one time is once stored inthe sense amplifiers and outputted from the Y-gating (Y-Gating) 1 byteby 1 byte according to a data line select line DS[2111:0]. Reversely,memory information is stored in the write driver via the Y-gating(Y-Gating) 1 byte by 1 byte and, when 16896 (=2¹⁴+2⁹) bits are ready,they are written to the memory array MA at one time.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing allocation of row addresses. The rowaddresses are generated by the address signal IA[30:12] shown in FIG. 1.The memory plane select signal PS[3:0] is generated by the addresssignal IA[30:29]. The memory layer select signal LS[3:0] is generated byan address signal IA[28:27]. The word lines WL0 to WL(2¹²−1) andbit-line select signals BS[7:0] for selecting pages are generated by anaddress signal IA[26:12].

<<Configuration of Sense Amplifier & Write Driver>>

Hereinafter, a detailed configuration example of the sense amplifier &write driver (S/A & Write Driver) will be described. FIG. 9 shows theread/write circuit RW0 as an example. First, the sense amplifier SA hasa publicly-known circuit configuration comprising a pre-charge circuitPCC, a cross-couple type latch amplifier CCL, and a pass gate RG.

The pre-charge circuit PCC comprising three NMOS transistors isactivated by driving a data-line equalize signal DLEQ to a boostedvoltage VPP which is higher than a supply voltage VDD during standby, sothat the pair of data lines D0T and D0B is driven to a reference voltageVDR (herein, for example, VDD/2).

The cross-couple type latch amplifier CCL comprises two PMOS transistorsand two NMOS transistors. During standby, common source lines CSP andCSN are driven to a pre-charge voltage (herein, the reference voltageVDR) which is same as the pair of data lines D0T and D0B. Meanwhile, ina read operation, when a signal corresponding to the information storedin a selected memory cell is generated in the data line D0T, the commonsource line CSP is driven to the supply voltage VDD and the commonsource line CSN is driven to a ground voltage VSS, so that thecross-couple type amplifier CCL is activated, and minute signalsgenerated in the pair of the data lines D0T and D0B are amplified.

The pass gate RG is configured by two NMOS transistors inserted betweenthe cross-couple type sense latch and the memory array. In the readoperation, the pass gate RG is activated when pass gate activatingsignals RGE1 and RGE2 are driven to the boosted voltage VPP, so that thecommon data-line CD0 and the reference voltage VREF (herein, forexample, VDD/2) and the cross-couple type latch amplifier CLL areconnected, and the signal read from the selected memory cell istransferred to the cross-couple type sense latch CLL. Note that, thedata-line equalize signal DLEQ, the common source lines CSP and CSN, andthe pass gate activating signals RGE1 and RGE2 are components of theblock of control signal CTL4.

FIG. 10 shows a configuration of a write driver WD0. The write driverhas a feature to control a current Irst that flows through the memorycell upon a reset according to memory layer select signals LS1B to LS3Bto change the write conditions for the respective layers. By virtue ofthis configuration, in a reset operation of causing the memory cell tobe in a high-resistance state, the resistance value can be controlled toa desired value for the respective layers according to differences inthe electrical characteristics of the layers, and thus a highly reliablephase change memory can be realized.

A basic configuration of the write driver is three current mirrorcircuits comprising NMOS transistors MN70, MN71, MN72, and MN73 and hasthe following two features. The first feature is that the current mirrorcircuits are activated according to operations. The second feature isthat the voltage value of the supplied array voltage VARY is controlledaccording to the operation mode.

First, a configuration of the current mirror circuit will be described.A first current mirror circuit is configured by a combination of thetransistors MN70 and MN73. Between the transistor MN70 and the arrayvoltage VARY, PMOS transistors MP700 and MP701 are inserted in series. Abias voltage VBIAS0 is inputted to a gate of the transistor MP700. Asignal obtained by inverting an initialization enable signal INT_EN byan inverter IV700 is inputted to a gate of the transistor MP701. Byvirtue of such a configuration, a memory cell current Icell to beapplied via the common data line CD0 is set to a value lint required forinitialization.

In this manner, the first current mirror circuit has a feature tocontrol the initialization current of the memory cell independent of thememory layer select signals LS1B to LS3B. This is because, ininitialization, the initialization voltage is controlled for therespective layers by controlling the array voltage VARY so that theinitialization can be carried out under optimal conditions. Therefore,since the circuit that carries out control for the respectively layersaccording to the memory layer select signals is not provided, thecircuit area can be reduced.

The second current mirror circuit has a configuration formed by acombination of the transistors MN71 and MN73. Between the transistorMN71 and the array voltage VARY, PMOS transistors MP710 and MP711 areinserted in series. A bias voltage VBIAS1 is inputted to a gate of thetransistor MP710. An output signal of a two-input NAND circuit ND70 towhich a set enable signal SET_EN and the data line D0T are inputted isinputted to the gate of the transistor MP711. When the memory cell is tobe caused to be in a low resistance state, in other words, memoryinformation “1” is to be written, this configuration controls the memorycell current Icell which is applied via the common data line CD0 to be avalue Iset that is necessary for a set operation.

In this manner, as well as the first current mirror circuit, the secondcurrent mirror circuit also has a feature to control the set currentIset of the memory cell independent of the memory layer select signalsLS1B to LS3B. This is because, in the set operation, the control foreach of the layers according to the memory layer select signals is notrequired to be carried out, since the reset resistance is controlled toan appropriate value by the third current mirror circuit which will bedescribed later. Therefore, the circuit configuration can be simplified,and the circuit area can be reduced.

Note that, in the above-described first current mirror circuit andsecond current mirror circuit, a circuit that carries out control foreach of the layers may be provided.

The third current mirror circuit has a configuration formed by acombination of the transistors MN72 and MN73. Between the transistorMN72 and the array voltage VARY, PMOS transistors MP720, MP722, MP723,and MP724, and MP721 are inserted in series parallel. Herein, the gatewidths of the transistors connected in parallel are set to be larger inorder of the transistors MP720, MP722, MP723, and MP724. The groundvoltage VSS is inputted to the gate of the transistor MP720. Theinverted signals LS1B to LS3B of the memory layer select signals LS1T toLS3T are inputted to the gates of the transistors MP722, MP723, andMP724, respectively. Further, the output signal of a two-input NANDcircuit ND71 to which a reset enable signal RST_EN and the data line D0Bare inputted is inputted to the gate of the transistor MP721. When thememory cell is to be caused to be in the high resistance state, in otherwords, memory information “0” is to be written, this configurationcontrols the memory cell current Icell, which is applied via the commondata line CD0, to be the value Irst corresponding to the selected memorylayer as shown in FIG. 11. Specifically, when a memory cell of a firstmemory layer (lowermost layer) is to be subjected to a write operation,the transistor MP720 is conducted, thereby setting the set current Irstto Irst0. When a memory cell of a second memory layer is to be subjectedto a write operation, the transistors MP720 and MP722 are conducted,thereby setting the reset current Irst to (m+1)×Irst0. When a memorycell of a third memory layer is to be subjected to a write operation,the transistors MP720 and MP723 are conducted, thereby setting the resetcurrent Irst to (k+1)×Irst0. When a memory cell of a fourth (uppermostlayer) memory layer is to be subjected to a write operation, thetransistors MP720 and MP724 are conducted, thereby setting the resetcurrent Irst to (j+1)×Irst0. Herein, the coefficients m, k, and j areset to satisfy the relation m<k<j. Thus, the higher the layer of thememory array is, the larger the current to be applied to carry out thereset operation is. Consequently, the resistance values of the memorycells of the layers can be reliably controlled to desired resistancevalues. Note that, the reset current Irst is set to have a larger valuethan the set current Iset. The initialization enable signal INIT_EN, theset enable signal SET_EN, and the reset enable signal RST_EN arecomponents of the block of control signal CTL4.

As described above, the third current mirror circuit has a feature suchthat the transistors MP720, 722, 723, and 724 having different gatewidths are connected in parallel and that the transistor to be conductedis selected according to the memory layer select signal. By virtue ofsuch a configuration, optimal reset currents can be supplied to thelayers, respectively.

Note that, the transistor MP720 may be removed since the transistor isin a conducted state. However, when the transistor MP720 is provided,there is an advantage that the base current for carrying out the resetoperation of the first memory layer can be designed.

Next, the voltage value of the array voltage VARY supplied to the writederivers WD and the first row decoder XDEC1 will be described. FIG. 12shows settings of the array voltage VARY for respective operations. Inthe case of initialization, the array voltage VARY having a valuecorresponding to the memory layer in which the selected cell ispositioned is applied.

Specifically, when the memory cell of the first memory layer (lowermostlayer) is to be initialized, the array voltage VARY is supplied as afirst voltage V0. Hereinafter, in the same manner, when the memory cellof the second memory layer is to be initialized, the array voltage VARYis supplied as a second voltage V1 which is higher than the firstvoltage V0; when the memory cell of the third memory layer is to beinitialized, a third voltage V2 which is higher than the second voltageV1 is supplied; and, when the memory cell of the fourth memory layer(uppermost layer) is to be initialized, a fourth voltage V3 which ishigher than the third voltage V2 is supplied. Above-described voltageshave the following relation.VDD≧V3>V2>V1>V0  (Expression 1)

When the initialization is carried out by supplying the optimal voltagesto the layers respectively, in this manner, deterioration of electricalcharacteristics caused by application of excessive stress to the memorylayers can be prevented, and a highly reliable phase change memory canbe realized.

Note that, in a read operation or a write operation, the array voltageVARY is set to the supply voltage VDD. This is because the array voltageis supplied from the outside of the phase change memory PCM, and thevoltage generator is not provided in the inside. However, in the readoperation, the state of the memory cell is not written; therefore,control of the array voltage VARY is not required. In the writeoperation, the reset operation and the set operation under the optimalconditions are enabled by the write driver shown in FIG. 10; therefore,by controlling the array voltage as shown in FIG. 12, in all theoperations, optimal conditions can be provided for the respectivelayers.

<<Initialization>>

Operations of the phase change memory according to the presentembodiment described above will be explained below. FIG. 13 shows anexample of initialization. The command latch enable signal CLE at theground voltage VSS is driven to a high level, and the chip enable signalCEB and the address latch enable signal ALE, which are at a high level,are driven to a low level. Then, when a first initialization commandsignal IN1 is inputted via input/output lines I/Ox (x=0 to 7), a firstinitialization command signal IN1 is retrieved to the phase changememory chip by the rising edge of the write enable signal WEB. Next,again, the command latch enable signal CLE at the high level, is drivento the low level, and the address latch enable signal ALE at the lowlevel is driven to the high level so that a column address and a rowaddress are inputted. Herein, since 0 to 2111 addresses are provided asshown in FIG. 7 as the column addresses, the column address requires 12bits. Meanwhile, there are merely eight I/O pins for inputting addressesas shown in FIG. 1; therefore, the 12-bit column address is sequentiallyinputted separately in two times (CA1, CA2). Similarly, the row addressrequires 19 bits as shown in FIG. 8; therefore, it is sequentiallyinputted separately in three times (RA1, RA2, RA3). These addresses areretrieved to the phase change memory chip by the rising edge of thewrite enable signal WEB, and decoding of the addresses is sequentiallycarried out in the chip. Furthermore, the address latch enable signalALE at the high level is driven to the low level, and the command latchenable signal CLE at the low level is driven to the high level so that asecond initialization command signal IN2 is inputted to the input/outputlines I/Ox (x=0 to 7). The second initialization command signal IN2 isretrieved to the phase change memory chip by the rising edge of thewrite enable signal WEB, thereby carrying out initialization. Note that,the ready/busy signal RBB at the high level is driven to the low levelin the initialization.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a chip internal operation inthe initialization of the phase change memory according to the presentembodiment. This diagram shows operation waveforms of the case in whichthe memory cell MC1 which is in the lowermost layer of the block ofstacked memory cell MB00 in the sub-memory arrays SMA0 to SMA16895included in the memory array MA shown in FIG. 3 is initialized. Tosimplify the description, the operation waveforms of the first block ofmultiplexer MUXB1 and the second block of multiplexer MUXB2 are omitted;however, when the memory layer select signal LS0 and the bit line selectsignal BS0 are activated according to the second initialization commandIN2 shown in FIG. 13, the local bit-lines LS001, LS101, . . . ,LS1689501 and the common data lines CD0, CD1, . . . , CD16895 arerespectively connected. Next, the initialization enable signal INIT_EN,which is at the ground voltage VSS, is driven to the supply voltage VDD,and the word line WL0, which is at the ground voltage VSS, is driven toa first array voltage V0; as a result, the initialization current lintis applied to the corresponding local bit-lines LB001, LB101, . . . ,LB1689501, thereby carrying out initialization. Note that, it can bereadily understood from above-described FIG. 12 that the array voltageapplied to the word line has any of the voltage values of V0 to V3according to the memory layer to which the selected memory cell belongs.

<<Write Operation>>

FIG. 15 shows an example of the write operation. The command latchenable signal CLE, which is at the low level, is driven to the highlevel, and the chip enable signal CEB and the address latch enablesignal ALE, which are at the high level, are driven to the low level.Then, when a first program command signal PRG1 is inputted via theinput/output lines I/Ox (x=0 to 7), the first program command signalPRG1 is retrieved to the phase change memory chip by the rising edge ofthe write enable signal WEB. Next, again, the command latch enablesignal CLE at the high level is driven to the low level, the addresslatch enable signal ALE at the low level is driven to the high level, sothat column addresses are sequentially inputted separately in two times(CA1, CA2), and row addresses are sequentially inputted separately inthree times (RA1, RA2, RA3). These addresses are retrieved to the phasechange memory chip by the rising edges of the write enable signal WEB,and decoding of the addresses is sequentially carried out in the chip.Furthermore, the address latch enable signal ALE, which is at the highlevel, is driven to the low level, and memory information pieces Din(N)to Din(M) are inputted via the input/output lines I/Ox (x=0 to 7).Subsequently, the command latch enable signal CLE, which is at the lowlevel, is driven to the high level so that a second program commandsignal PRG2 is inputted to the input/output lines I/Ox (x=0 to 7). Thesecond program command signal PRG2 is retrieved to the phase changememory chip by the rising edge of the write enable signal WEB, therebycarrying out the write operation. Note that, in the write operation, theready/busy signal RBB, which is at the high level, is driven to the lowlevel. After the write operation is finished, and after the ready/busysignal RBB, which is at the low level, is driven to the high level, astate read command signal RDS is inputted. The state read command signalRDS is retrieved to the phase change memory chip by the rising edge ofthe write enable signal WEB. Furthermore, in synchronization with a readenable signal REB, the state RIO0 after write is outputted from theinput/output lines I/Ox (x=0 to 7).

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of a chip internal operation inthe write operation of the phase change memory according to the presentembodiment. The diagram shows operation waveforms of the case in whichmemory information is to be written to the memory cell MC1 which is inthe lowermost layer of the block of stacked memory cell MB00 in thesub-memory arrays SMA0 to SMA16895 included in the memory array MA shownin FIG. 3. According to the second write command PRG2 shown in FIG. 15,the data-line equalize signal DLEQ, which is at the boosted voltage VPP,is driven to the ground voltage VSS, and the common source lines CSP andCSN, which are at the reference voltage VDR, are driven to the supplyvoltage VDD and the ground voltage VSS, respectively; as a result, thememory information inputted via the data lines D0T to D16895T istemporarily stored in the sense amplifiers SA in the read/write circuitsRW0 to RW16895. In addition, while the operation waveforms of the firstblock of multiplexer MUXB1 and the second block of multiplexer MUXB2 areomitted to simplify the description, when the memory layer select signalLS0 and the bit line select signal BS0 are activated, the localbit-lines LS001, LS101, . . . , LS1689501 and the common data lines CD0,CD1, . . . , CD16895 are connected, respectively. Subsequently, thereset enable signal RST_EN and the set enable signal SET_EN are drivento the supply voltage VDD, and the word line WL0, which is at the groundvoltage VSS, is driven to the array voltage VARY (herein, supply voltageVDD); as a result, the reset current Irst or the set current Iset isapplied to the local bit-lines LB001, LB101, . . . , LB1689501 accordingto the memory information stored in the corresponding sense amplifiers,thereby carrying out the write operation. Note that, a pulse width ofthe set enable signal SET_EN is set to be larger than that of the resetenable signal RST_EN, so that the memory layer can be sufficientlycrystallized and that the resistance value thereof can be lowered.Lastly, the common source line CSP, which is at the supply voltage VDD,and the common source line CSN, which is at the ground voltage VSS, aredriven to the reference voltage VDR, and the data-line equalize signalDLEQ, which is at the ground voltage VSS, is driven to the boostedvoltage VPP, thereby returning to a standby state.

<<Read Operation>>

FIG. 17 shows an example of the read operation. The command latch enablesignal CLE, which is at the low level, is driven to the high level, andthe chip enable signal CEB and the address latch enable signal ALE,which are at the high level, are driven to the low level. Then, when afirst read command signal RD1 is inputted via the input/output linesI/Ox (x=0 to 7), a first read command signal RD1 is retrieved to thephase change memory chip by the rising edge of the write enable signalWEB. Next, the command latch enable signal CLE, which is at the highlevel, is again driven to the low level, the address latch enable signalALE, which is at the low level, is driven to the high level, and thecolumn addresses are sequentially inputted separately in two times (CA1,CA2), and row addresses are sequentially inputted in three times (RA1,RA2, RA3). These addresses are retrieved to the phase change memory chipby the rising edges of the write enable signal WEB, and decoding of theaddresses is sequentially carried out in the chip. Further, the addresslatch enable signal ALE, which is at the high level, is driven to thelow level, the command latch enable signal CLE, which is at the lowlevel, is driven to the high level, and a second read command signal RD2is inputted to the input/output lines I/Ox (x=0 to 7). The second readcommand signal RD2 is retrieved to the phase change memory chip by therising edge of the write enable signal WEB, thereby carrying out a readoperation. In the read operation, the ready/busy signal RBB, which is atthe high level, is driven to the low level. The memory information readfrom the memory array is transferred in the chip, and the ready/busysignal RBB, which is at the low level, is driven to the high level;then, in synchronization with the rising edges of the read enablesignals REB, it is outputted in the order of Dout(N) to Dout(M).

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of the chip internal operationin the read operation of the phase change memory according to thepresent embodiment. The diagram shows operation waveforms of the case inwhich memory information is read from the memory cell MC1 which is inthe lowermost layer of the block of stacked memory cell MB00 in thesub-memory arrays SMA0 to SMA16895 included in the memory array MA shownin FIG. 3. To simplify the description, the operation waveforms of thefirst block of multiplexer MUXB1 and the second block of multiplexerMUXB2 are omitted; however, when the memory layer select signal LS0 andthe bit-line select signal BS0 are activated according to the secondread command RD2 shown in FIG. 17, the local bit-lines LS001, LS101, . .. , LS1689501 and the common data lines CD0, CD1, . . . , CD16895 areconnected, respectively. Next, a pass gate enable signal RGE1, which isat the ground voltage VSS, is driven to the boosted voltage VPP, andeach of the local bit-lines LS001, LS101, . . . , LS1689501 is driven tothe ground voltage VSS. A data-line equalize signal DLEQ, which is atthe boosted voltage VPP, is driven to the ground voltage VSS, a passgate enable signal RGE2, which is at the ground voltage VSS, is drivento the boosted voltage VPP, and the data lines D0B, D1B, . . . , D16895Bare driven to the reference voltage VREF. Subsequently, when the wordline, which is at the ground voltage VSS, is driven to the array voltageVARY (herein, supply voltage VDD), the local bit-lines and the datalines are driven to the voltages corresponding to the memoryinformation. For example, when the memory cell on the local bit-lineLB001 stores the information “1” and is in the low-resistance state, thelocal bit-line LB001 and the data line D0T are charged. On the otherhand, when the memory cell stores the information “0” and is in thehigh-resistance state like the memory cell on the local bit-line LB101,the local bit-line LB101 and the data line D1T are maintainedsubstantially at the ground voltage VSS. Then, like the local bit-lineLB001 and the data line D0T that read the memory information “1”, at thetiming when the voltages thereof exceed the reference voltage VREF, thecommon source lines CSP and CSN, which are at the reference voltage VDR,are driven to the supply voltage VDD and the ground voltage VSS,respectively, so that the read signal is amplified. Further, the wordline WL0, which is at the supply voltage VDD, is driven to the groundvoltage VSS, the pass gate enable signals RGE1 and RGE2, which are atthe boosted voltage VPP, are driven to the ground voltage VSS, so thatthe common data lines CD0, CD1, . . . , CD16895 and the data lines D0T,D1T, . . . , D16895T are disconnected, thereby avoiding data destructionthat is caused by excessive voltage application. Lastly, the commonsource line CSP, which is at the supply voltage VDD, and the commonsource line CSN, which is at the ground voltage VSS, are driven to thereference voltage VDR, respectively, and the data-line equalize signalDLEQ, which is at the ground voltage VSS, is driven to the boostedvoltage VPP, thereby returning to the standby state.

By virtue of the above-described configurations and operations, thefollowing two effects are obtained. The first effect is that theintegration degree of the phase change memory chip can be improved bythe structure in which the memory cells comprising the memory layersusing the chalcogenide material and the diodes are stacked in the mannershown in FIG. 4. The second effect is that the initialization conditionsand the write conditions are changed depending on the layer in which theselected memory cell is positioned. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 10,the initialization conditions and the write conditions (herein, resetconditions) can be changed according to the operations as well as byselecting the current mirror circuit according to the operation, by thecontrol mechanism of the reset current Irst according to the voltagesetting shown in FIG. 12 and the current mirror circuits. By virtue ofsuch a mechanism, in the initialization, deterioration of the electricalcharacteristics caused by application of excessive stress to the memorylayers can be prevented. In addition, in the reset operation of causingthe memory cell to be in the high-resistance state, it is possible tocontrol the resistance value to a desired value. Therefore, the phasechange memory with highly reliable operations can be realized.

Note that, while the case of stacking four layers of memory cells hasbeen explained in the present embodiment, the number of stacking layersis not limited to this, and it may be two layers or eight layers. Alsoin such a case, similar effects can be obtained by controlling theoperation conditions corresponding to the selected memory layer.

Second Embodiment

In a present second embodiment, another configuration of the writedriver WD shown in FIG. 10 will be described. FIG. 19 shows aconfiguration example of the write deriver WD of the present embodiment.A different point between the present write circuit and the writecircuit shown in FIG. 10 is that the PMOS transistors MP722, MP723, andMP724 are replaced by transistors MP725 and MP726. Dimensions of thegate widths of these transistors are in a ratio of 1:1:2 in the order ofthe transistors MP720, MP725, and MP726.

A signal LS13B obtained by inverting the output signal of a two-inputNAND circuit ND720, to which the memory layer select signals LS1B andLS3B are inputted, by an inverter IV720 is inputted to a gate of thetransistor MP725. A signal LS23B obtained by inverting the output signalof a two-input NAND circuit ND721, to which the memory layer selectsignals LS2B and LS3B are inputted, by an inverter IV721 is inputted tothe gate of the transistor MP726. Four levels of the reset current Irstas shown in FIG. 20 are generated by such a configuration by using thethree transistors. When the logic circuit part is shared by a pluralityof write circuits, the number of the transistors in the write driver isreduced; therefore, the area of the write driver WD can be suppressed.

Third Embodiment

In a present third embodiment, another configuration example of thephase change memory PCM shown in FIG. 1 will be described. FIG. 21 showsa configuration example of the phase change memory PCM of the presentembodiment. The present phase change memory PCM has a feature to judgeeach memory layer whether it is a non-defective product or a defectiveproduct and using merely the memory layer that is judged to benon-defective. In order to realize such a function, a feature lies inthat an address translation circuit AE is added to the configurationshown in FIG. 1. The address translation circuit AE translates theinternal address IA[28:27] to an internal address CA[28:27] andtransfers it to the X-buffers and latches (X-Buffers & Latches).

FIG. 22 shows a configuration example of the address translation circuitAE shown in FIG. 21. The address translation circuit AE comprises anaddress translation logic circuit AEL and a multiplexer MUX. The addresstranslation circuit is set to have arbitrary logics by using, forexample, a fuse. The logics are different depending on the combinationof the memory layers which are judged to be non-defective products, and,for example, the functions shown in FIG. 23 are realized. The functionswill be described below.

In a first function, the memory layer judged to be non-defective is onelayer, and an address for selecting any of the first layer to fourthlayer is generated. In this case, the internal address IA[28:27] to beinputted is defined to be 00. The address translation logic circuit AELtranslates the internal address IA[28:27] to any of 00, 01, 10, and 11according to the memory layer that is judged to be non-defective.

In a second function, the memory layers judged to be non-defective aretwo layers, and addresses for selecting any two layers from the firstlayer to the fourth layer are generated. In this case, the internaladdress IA[28:27] to be inputted is defined to be 00 or 01. The addresstranslation logic circuit AEL translates the internal address IA[28:27]to six patterns of combinations according to the memory layer judged tobe non-defective.

In a third function, the memory layers judged to be non-defective arethree layers, and addresses for selecting any three layers from thefirst layer to the fourth layer are generated. In this case, theinternal address IA[28:27] to be inputted is defined to be either one of00, 01, and 10. The address translation logic circuit AEL translates theinternal address IA[28:27] to four patterns of combinations according tothe memory layers judged to be non-defective.

In a fourth function, the memory layers judged to be non-defective arefour layers, and addresses for selecting any of the first layer tofourth layer are generated. In this case, the internal address IA[28:27]to be inputted is defined to be either one of 00, 01, 10, and 11. Theinternal address IA[28:27] is outputted without change as an internaladdress EA[28:27].

The multiplexer MUX outputs either one of the internal address IA[28:27]and the internal address EA[28:27] as the internal address CA[28:27]according to the block of control signal CTL4. The block of controlsignal CTL4 has, as shown in FIG. 24, an initialization mode signalINIT, a test mode signal TEST, and a normal mode signal NORM. Theinitialization mode signal INIT is activated by the first and secondinitialization command signals IN1 and IN2 as shown in FIG. 13. Thenormal operation mode signal NORM is activated by the first and secondprogram command signals PRG1 and PRG2 or the first and second readcommand signals RD1 and RD2 as shown in FIG. 15 or FIG. 17. The testmode signal TEST is activated when first and second program commandsignals TPRG1 and TPRG2 or first and second read command signals TRD1 orTRD2 are input upon testing instead of the first and second programcommand signals PRG1 and PRG2 or the first and second read commandsignals RD1 and RD2 shown in FIG. 15 or FIG. 17. According to theoperation mode signals described above, in an initialization mode and atest mode, the internal address IA[28:27] is selected and outputted tothe internal address CA[28:27]. Also, in a normal operation mode, theinternal address EA[28:27] translated by the address translation logiccircuit AEL is selected and outputted to the internal address CA[28:27].

The following effects can be obtained by the configuration andoperations of the address translation circuit AE described above.Specifically, when initialization and testing of the write operation andthe read operation are to be carried out, non-defective products ordefective products can be identified by selecting all memory layers andcarrying out desired operations by translating the internal addressIA[28:27] to the internal address EA[28:27] as shown in FIG. 23. Inaddition, when setting of the address translation logic circuit AEL ismade for each chip according to characteristic determinations per thememory layers, only the memory layers having good characteristics can beselected, and a so-called partially good memory chip which can operateas a memory can be realized. By virtue of such partially good products,the number of chips obtained per a wafer can be improved so that bitcost can be reduced.

Fourth Embodiment

In the present embodiment, a system for checking valid memory layers inthe partially good memory chip described in the third embodiment will bedescribed. The present system has a feature to write information onwhether the memory layer having the corresponding page is valid or notin a spare field of an arbitrary page in the page configuration shown inFIG. 7 before chip shipping. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, theinformation on whether the memory layer is valid or not is written tothe memory cells selected by the column address 2049 in the spare fieldsof first and second pages Page 0 and Page 1 of the top blocks Block 0,Block 2048, Block 4096, and Block 6144 in the main blocks, Main-block 0,Main-block 4, Main-block 8, and Main-block 12 in the memory plane PL0.The spare field is not required to comprise the same memory as the mainblock, but may comprise another non-volatile memory.

Hereinafter, it is assumed that, when memory information is “FFh”, acorresponding memory layer is valid, and when the memory information isother than “FFh”, the corresponding memory layer is invalid.

FIG. 25 shows a flow chart of a read operation for checking validity ofa memory layer. First, a memory layer check command signal RLS1 isinputted. Next, an address signal corresponding to the column address2049 and a row address signal shown in FIG. 8 by which theabove-described page is selected are inputted. Further, a memory layercheck command signal RLS2 is inputted, and the memory information of adesired spare field is read. Herein, if the corresponding memory layeris valid, the memory information “FFh” is notified to a so-calledhost-side device such as a memory controller or a central processingunit connected to the outside of the phase change memory chip. On theother hand, if the corresponding memory layer is invalid, informationother than the memory information “FFh” is notified to a device in aso-called host side such as a memory controller or a central processingunit connected to the outside of the phase change memory chip. Thehost-side device stores the thus-notified information in an invalidlayer table (Invalid Layer Table). Such an operation is repeated whileincrementing the memory layer addresses one by one so that the invalidlayer table is created.

FIG. 26 shows the read operation part in the flow chart shown in FIG.25. The operation principles are same as the read operation shown inFIG. 17. Regarding first and second command signals, the read commandsignals RD1 and RD2 shown in FIG. 17 are replaced by the memory layercheck command signals RLS1 and RLS2. In addition, a feature lies in apoint that only the memory information of the column address 2049 in atop page or a subsequent page is read.

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing another function of the multiplexer MUXshown in FIG. 22. The function of the multiplexer MUX in the presentembodiment is expanded by memory layer check command signals RLSgenerated from the first and second memory layer check command signalsRLS1 and RLS2. More specifically, when the memory layer check commandsignal RLS is activated, the internal address IA[28:27] is selected andoutputted to the internal address CA[28:27]. Note that, the memory layercheck command signal RLS newly added in the present embodiment is acomponent of the block of control signal CTL4.

The following effects can be obtained by the above-describedconfiguration and operations. More specifically, the host-side device iscapable of understanding which memory layers are valid or not by readingthe memory information of the spare field of each of the memory layersby using the first and second memory layer check command signals RLS1and RLS2. Therefore, it becomes easy to build a system by combiningphase change memory chips having various capacities and to add phasechange memory chips.

Note that, the method of checking validity of the memory layers is notlimited to this, but there are various methods. For example, a deviceidentification table may be provided in the phase change memory chip, sothat information about memory plane capacities can be stored. FIG. 28shows a timing chart of a device ID read operation, and FIG. 29 shows adevice identification table. The device ID read operation shown in FIG.28 is based on the read operation shown in FIG. 17, and the device IDsshown in FIG. 29 are sequentially read by a device ID read commandsignal RID. A chip user (herein, the host-side device) is capable ofunderstanding a valid chip capacity of the phase change memory andtarget address signals for input according to the memory plane capacity.

Fifth Embodiment

In the present embodiment, a phase change memory module formed by usinga plurality of phase change memory chips described in the thirdembodiment and the fourth embodiment will be described. FIG. 30 shows aconfiguration of the phase change memory module PM according to thepresent embodiment. The diagram shows, as an example, the configurationusing four phase change memory chips PCM0 to PCM3 and a non-volatilememory controller NVCTL.

The non-volatile memory controller NVCTL has the invalid layer table(Invalid Layer Table) described in the third embodiment and the fourthembodiment. It also has a wear leveling (Wear Leveling) function forleveling the number of times of writing in memory cells and a garbagecollection function for assembling free spaces dispersed in the memoryspace. Each of the phase change memory chips PCM0 to PCM3 has theaddress translation circuit AE shown in FIGS. 21 and 22. The addresstranslation circuit AE translates an input address signal to an internaladdress signal for selecting a valid memory layer. The non-volatilememory controller NVCTL and the phase change memory chips PCM0 to PCM3are connected by input/output lines I/O. The non-volatile memorycontroller NVCTL is connected to a host device via a system bus SBUS. Byvirtue of such a configuration, a large-capacity storage devicecomprising a combination of phase change memory chips having variouscapacities can be built.

Sixth Embodiment

In a present embodiment, another configuration of the phase changememory module formed by using the above-described plurality of phasechange memory chips will be described. FIG. 31 shows the configurationof the phase change memory module PM according to the presentembodiment. FIG. 31 shows, as an example, the configuration using thefour phase change memory chips PCM0 to PCM3 and the non-volatile memorycontroller NVCTL. Herein, the four phase change memory chips PCM0 toPCM3 do not have the address translation circuit described in the thirdembodiment and the fourth embodiment.

A difference from the phase change memory module shown in FIG. 30 liesin a point that the non-volatile memory controller NVCTL has an addressgeneration circuit block AG having an address translation function likethat shown in FIG. 23. The non-volatile memory controller NVCTL carriesout the read operation for checking validity of memory layers shown inFIG. 18 and FIG. 19 at every power-on and builds an invalid layer table(Invalid Layer Table). The address translation functions are puttogether in the non-volatile memory controller NVCTL; as a result, thechip area of the phase change memory chips PCM0 to PCM3 can be reduced.

Seventh Embodiment

In the present embodiment, another example of the semiconductor deviceof the first embodiment will be described. The present embodiment has afeature in the block of control signal CTL4 shown in FIG. 1 that furtherhas four types of reset enable signals RST_EN0 to RST_EN3 and that thereset enable signals are selected according to the memory layer to whichmemory information is to be written.

FIG. 32 shows another configuration example of the write driver ofFIG. 1. A feature in FIG. 32 is that the reset enable signalcorresponding to the activated memory layer select signal is selected bycarrying out AND logic operations of the reset enable signals RST_EN0 toRST_EN3 and the memory layer select signal LS[3:0] by using NANDcircuits ND730 to ND733 and inverters IV730 to IV733. The output signalsof the inverters IV730 to IV733, which are the results of the ANDlogical operations, are inputted to four-input NOR circuit NR730, andthe reset enable signal generated by inverting the output signal thereofby an inverter IV734 is inputted to the NAND circuit ND71.

FIG. 34 is a diagram showing an example of chip internal operations inthe write operation of the phase change memory in the semiconductordevice shown in FIG. 23. This diagram shows operation waveforms of thecase in which memory information is to be written to the memory cell MC1which is in the lowermost layer of the block of stacked memory cell MB00in the sub-memory arrays SMA0 to SMA16895 included in the memory arrayMA shown in FIG. 3. The pulse widths of the reset enable signalsRST_EN[3:0] are set to be larger in order of the reset enable signalsfrom RST_EN3 to RST_EN0. These pulses are selected in the write drivershown in FIG. 23. Herein, the memory layer to which the memoryinformation is to be written is the lowermost layer; therefore, when thememory layer select signal LS0 is activated, the reset enable signalRST_EN0 having a large pulse width is selected as shown in FIG. 33. Areset operation is carried out by the reset enable signal RST_EN0corresponding to the memory information.

The following effects are obtained by the above-described configurationand operations. More specifically, the lower the layer having arelatively low resistance value in which the memory cell is positioned,the longer the current drive time in the reset operation is made; as aresult, the resistance of the storage layer can be increased up to adesired value. When it is combined with an adjustment function of theapplied current like the write driver shown in FIG. 32, the resetoperation can be more reliably carried out.

Eighth Embodiment

In a present embodiment, another configuration of the phase changememory chip, which has been described above, will be described. FIG. 35shows the configuration based on the phase change memory chip shown inFIG. 1. Features in FIG. 35 are the following three points.

A first feature lies in a point that a plurality of voltages V[3:0] aregenerated in the chip by using an internal voltage generating circuitVGEN. The internal voltage generating circuit VGEN generates theplurality of voltages from the supply voltage VDD and the ground voltageVSS. The supply voltage VDD is supplied to the logic circuit, and theplurality of voltages are supplied to the memory array; consequently,the operation of the logic circuit and drive of the plurality ofvoltages can be stabilized.

A second feature lies in a point that the voltage supply lines of thegenerated voltages V[3:0] are lead to pads PAD_V0 to PAD_V3,respectively. By virtue of such a configuration, whether desiredvoltages are generated in the chip or not can be readily measured.

A third feature lies in a point that a voltage select circuit VSEL isprovided in each of the memory planes PL0 to PL3. The voltage selectcircuit VSEL selects a value corresponding to the initialization enablesignal INIT_EN, which is a component of the block of control signalCTL4, and the memory layer select signals LS[3:0], and outputs the sameas the array voltage VARY. The array voltage VARY, which is controlledto an appropriate value, is supplied to the word line WL via the firstrow decoder XDEC1 and is also supplied to the write driver WD. By virtueof such voltage control, initialization of the memory cell can becarried out at an optimum voltage for each layer according to theresistance value which is different in each layer due to the differenceof electrical characteristics.

Specifically, the array voltage VARY is set as shown in FIG. 36. Whenthe memory cell of the first memory layer (lowermost layer) is to beinitialized, the memory layer select signal LS0 is activated (herein, itis driven to the supply voltage VDD), thereby driving the array voltageVARY to the first voltage V0. When the memory cell of the second memorylayer is to be initialized, the memory layer select signal LS1 isactivated (herein, it is driven to the supply voltage VDD), therebydriving the array voltage VARY to the second voltage V1 which is higherthan the first voltage V0. When the memory cell of the third memorylayer is to be initialized, the memory layer select signal LS2 isactivated (herein, it is driven to the supply voltage VDD), therebydriving the array voltage VARY to the third voltage V2 which is higherthan the second voltage V1. When the memory cell of the fourth memorylayer (uppermost layer) is to be initialized, the memory layer selectsignal LS3 is activated (herein, it is driven to the supply voltageVDD), thereby driving the array voltage VARY to the fourth voltage V3which is higher than the third voltage V2. The above-described voltagessatisfy the above-described relation of (Expression 1).

When the initialization is carried out by supplying the optimal voltagesto the respective layers, deterioration of the electricalcharacteristics caused by excessive application of stress to the memorylayers can be prevented, and thus the phase change memory of highreliability can be realized.

When the initialization enable signal INIT_EN is in a non-active state(herein, it is driven to the ground voltage VSS), the phase changememory according to the present invention carries out a read operationor a write operation. In this case, the array voltage VARY is set to thesupply voltage VDD independent of the state of the memory layer selectsignals LS[3:0]. The array voltage VARY can be supplied from outside.This is because one time of initialization is satisfactory in a test orthe like upon shipping, and that supplying the voltage required for theinitialization in the test or the like upon shipping is satisfactory.The array voltages corresponding to the memory layers can be supplied byproviding dedicated pins of the array voltage VARY. However, since thedesired initialization can be carried out even by merely adjusting thevalue of the supply voltage VDD, the operations of the presentembodiment can be realized by adjusting the voltage applied to pins ofthe supply voltage VDD. In this case, since the number of pins can besuppressed, the area of the memory chip can be reduced.

In the foregoing, the invention made by the inventors of the presentinvention has been concretely described based on the embodiments.However, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limitedto the foregoing embodiments and various modifications and alterationscan be made within the scope of the present invention. For example, thestacked memory cells are not limited to four layers, and they may bemore than that or less than that (for example, two layers or eightlayers). Meanwhile, the array voltage in the initialization is notlimited to the setting in which the higher the layer is, the higher thevoltage is; and other settings are possible depending on thecharacteristics of the memory cells. For example, the array voltage canbe set to be lower with respect to a higher layer in the case in whichthe higher the layer of the memory cell is, the lower the resistancevalue thereof becomes, due to some reasons that, for example, the higherthe layer of the memory cell is, the larger the variation of processingdimensions is. Similarly, the reset current Irst in the reset operationcan be set so that the higher the layer is, the smaller the current is.Also, the width of the reset enable signal RST_EN in the reset operationcan be set so that the higher the layer is, the smaller the width is.Furthermore, not only in the reset operation, but also in the setoperation, similar optimization of the write conditions can be carriedout depending on the electrical characteristics of the memory cells. Thepresent invention can be applied not only to a single memory chip, butalso to an interface of on-chip memory. The concept of the presentinvention can be applied not only to phase change memories, but also tovarious semiconductor memories such as flash memories, dynamic randomaccess memories, static random access memories, and magnetoresistiverandom access memories.

The semiconductor device of the present invention prevents excessivestress to the recording layers and avoids deterioration of theelectrical characteristics of the recording layers by adjusting theinitialization conditions and reset operation conditions according tothe layer in which the accessed memory cell is positioned. When capacityincrease of a semiconductor memory is advanced, memory arrays are causedto be three dimensional by stacking. When the stacking number of memorycells is increased, differences in the thermal history among the memorycells become larger, and thus differences in the electricalcharacteristics of the memory array are increased. However, according tothe present invention, the operation conditions can be optimized foreach layer, and it is thus suitable for highly reliable technology offuturistic semiconductor devices having stacked memory arrays.

1. A semiconductor device comprising: a plurality of memory chips eachhaving a plurality of memory layers including a plurality of memorycells which each include a memory element to which memory information iswritten using current; an invalid layer table to store information aboutwhether each of the plurality of memory layers is valid or not; and amemory controller connected to an outside of the semiconductor device,wherein an outer address signal received from the outside of thesemiconductor device to the semiconductor device is translated to aninner address signal to select one of the plurality of memory layerswhich is valid.
 2. The semiconductor device according to claim 1,wherein one of the plurality of the memory chips comprises an addresstranslation circuit to translate from the outer address to the inneraddress.
 3. The semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein thememory controller comprises an address translation circuit to translatefrom the outer address to the inner address.
 4. The semiconductor deviceaccording to claim 3, wherein the memory controller builds the invalidlayer table at a power-on period of the semiconductor device.
 5. Thesemiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein each of the memoryelements is a phase change element.